Howard Saffold Bio

 Howard Saffold was born and raised in the City of Chicago. He completed grade school at George Manierre Elementary, located in walking distance from his home on the near north side of the city. He volunteered for military service after graduating from Farragut High School in 1959. He served on active duty from December 1959 until his discharge in December 1962. After returning to Chicago and driving an Elevated rapid transit train for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) a short time, he joined the Chicago Police Department in November 1965. He became one of the original board of director members of the Afro-American Patrolmen’s League (AAPL) in 1968. He succeeded Renault Robinson as president of the organization in 1971 and served in that capacity until 1983. The AAPL connected with thirteen (13) other existing Black police organizations and founded the National Black Police Association (NBPA) in (1972. Howard was elected, served and completed his term as Chairperson of NBPA in 1978.

He was asked by the honorable Mayor Harold Washington, to head up the police security detail for this newly elected first Black Chicago Mayor in 1983. Howard took leave from AAPL to accept that assignment. He coordinated this team of Chicago police officers that provided protective services to the Chief Executive of Chicago until Mayor Washington’s untimely death in November, 1987. Saffold was then asked to serve in that same capacity for the honorable Mayor Eugene Sawyer who became the second Black man to serve as Chief Executive of Chicago. Howard eventually retired after twenty-five (25) years of service from the Chicago Police Department, in January 1991.

After earning a Baccalaureate(BS) Degree from Chicago State University and a Masters (MA) Degree in Urban Studies from Northeastern Illinois University (Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies CCICS) he became the CEO of a non-profit organization called The Positive Anti-Crime Thrust, Inc (incorporated since 1979) from 1991, and serves in that role today. Since serving that organization of professional and semi-professional volunteers, he has been the recipient of numerous awards and citations from both local and national organizations.